Labour and Lib Dem councillors are calling on the government to enshrine the human right to food in law.
Milton Keynes Council's Progressive Alliance has reported that around 4,000 households in Milton Keynes go without food, and nearly 10,000 households are eating smaller meals because they cannot afford enough food.
Recent reports also reveal that the National Insurance rise could mean one million families will live in destitution, with extreme poverty increasing by a third.
The Progressive Alliance is concerned that the cost-of-living crisis will increase the levels of food poverty, hungry children and malnutrition in Milton Keynes.
Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Child Poverty, Liberal Democrat Councillor Jane Carr, said: “The Conservative government is letting the people of Milton Keynes down. We’re seeing skyrocketing energy bills, the highest inflation in 30-years, a National Insurance tax hike, and the weekly shop going up by hundreds of pounds every year. More and more people in MK are reliant on the Food Bank and Community Larders to eat.”
“An estimated 11 million people in the UK live in food poverty; it’s time the Tory government did something about it.”
Labour Councillor Emily Darlington, Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities, added: “In our budget, the Progressive Alliance took action on the cost-of-living crisis. We’ve invested £18 million in financial support for our struggling residents, and yet the Milton Keynes Conservative Group voted against it.”
“Every week I see families in our communities struggling with debt, bills and the rising cost of food. I urge the Conservative Group to put aside party politics and support our motion, because no one should go hungry in Milton Keynes.”
